April 16, 2014

By Kristina Dean
Staff writer

Watertown - Circled around a candle, prayers echo in the dark, coming from students and adults sitting by the altar at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

They are the Mystery Players of Immaculate Central Heart School of Watertown. And prayer is at the center of every rehearsal and performance.

Using the phrase "It's a play, it's a prayer, it's a mystery," the powerful meditation combines lighting, music, narration and acting to describe the Passion of Christ.

Since 1981, students, mostly seniors, from IHC have been bringing stories of Jesus' birth and death during Advent and Lent to various churches across the northeast.

Over the years, the group has visited six states and 139 churches and schools, always ending on Good Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Watertown.

This Lenten season, the players will visit a place in need of powerful prayers, Newtown, Conn. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on April 16.

Director Terry Burgess said there is usually a connection or a request from most places where they perform. In the case of St. Rose of Lima, there was no connection, he explained. Almost on a whim, he reached out to the church to see if they were interested.

"I sent an email, and never really expected to hear back. Months later, out of the blue, we got a phone call from their parish office saying they'd like to have us come," he said.

Mr. Burgess hopes the prayerful performance will help to bring healing to the area, which saw the second deadliest mass shooting in America on December 14, 2012. Adam Lanza shot 20 children and six adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the village of Sandy Hook in Newtown, Conn.

Prior to entering the school, the 20-year-old shot and killed his mother, Nancy, at their home, and as first responders arrived at the school, he committed suicide.

"I think that's the goal, to bring this message of hope to that congregation,” he said. “But, I also think of what it might do for our kids too. Kids in general need to think outside of themselves. They need to see how the Lord will work through them to help the people of Newtown.”

Senior student Caitrin McPherson hopes the experience of being in the Mystery Players will help her faith grow.
"I can feel that happening already, slowly,” she said. “We are all working together, on our parts, and on everything we have to work on. Each time we have this group, we have prayer, and we all kind of share our feelings.

This prayer is helping them to trust one another, and to grow together.

Student David Brancheau also echoed this. "It's very peaceful, and gets me prepared for practice. We always say what we are thankful for, and then do a prayer of petition.

I feel like this prayer gets us closer, and you start to respect people for what they say," he said.

The prayers also prepare him for practice, helping him to understand the scenes from different perspectives.
"Whether I am a soldier or Pontius Pilot, I see them from more and more different points of view,” he said. “I haven't been Jesus yet, but it really gets me thinking about his sacrifice and what he gave up.

I've really started noticing that Mystery Players has gotten me closer to my faith,” he said. “I was just used to being Catholic, and stopped remembering why I believed. Now I'm looking more carefully because of the Mystery Players. I'm praying more, and I'm closer to my faith."

A third student, Gabriella Rivera, said that the group had gotten a "taste" during their Advent season performances. She anticipates the group will become really close and develop lasting friendships, especially since the Lenten play is a much more spiritually intense play.

Leading into their performances, the group met every Sunday to rehearse for three hours.

PHOTO/COMMENT FROM IHC MYSTERY PLAYERS WEBSITE
Since 1981, IHC Seniors have been bringing the stories of Jesus’ birth and death on the cross during the Advent and Lenten seasons. Their performances, really prayerful meditations, are powerful. They combine an austere but dramatically effective use of acting, narration, music, and lighting to captivate their audiences. “Audience” is really the wrong word, as a Mystery Players event is truly a mutual prayer experience shared by the students and those watching.